Garner
clips

ABSTRACT

A CLIP IS DISCLOSED FOR ATTACHING A THERMOPLASTIC PANEL TO A METAL FRAME USED TO REINFORCE THE THERMOPLASTIC PANEL. THE CLIP IS PREFERABLY MADE OF A STIFF THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL AND THE BASE IS SHAPED SO AS TO ENGAGE SITES INTEGRALLY MOLDED ON THE SURFACE OF THE THERMOPLASTIC PANEL. TWO ARMS EXTEND ABOVE THE BASE WHICH RECEIVE AND GRIP THE METAL FRAME OR TUBULAR MEMBER. EACH ARM CARRIES A LUG AT OR NEAR ITS END. A TRANSVERSE LOCKING MEMBER IS PLACED OVER THE ARMS SECURING THE TUBULAR MEMBER BETWEEN THE ARMS. PREFERABLY THE CLIP IS SLIDABLY ENGAGED WITH THE THERMOPLASTIC PANEL TO PERMIT MOVEMENT IN TRANSVERSE DIRECTION TO THE ROD. THERMOPLASTICL PANELS THUS REINFORCED ARE USEFUL FOR AUTO PANELS, FOR EXAMBLE, HOODS, AND ENJOY THE ADVANTAGES OF SLIDABILITY TO CORRECT MINOR INACCURACIES IN AUTOMOBILE PRODUCTION AND COMPENSATION FOR THE THERMAL EXPANSION OF THE TUBULAR FRAME BY SLIDING. THERMOPLASTIC MATERIALS SUITABLE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CLIPS ARE ISOTATIC POLYMERS OF PROPYLENE, HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE, COPOLYMERS OF PROPYLENE WITH ETHYLENE, ACRYLONITRILE-BUTADIENESTYRENE COPOLYMERS, ACETAL COPOLYMERS AND NYLONS.

DEFENSIVE PUBLICATION UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Published at the request of the applicant or owner in accordance with the Notice of Dec. 16, 1969, 869 O.G. 687. The abstracts of Defensive Publication applications are identified by distinctly numbered series and are arranged chronologically. The heading of each abstract indicates the number of pages of specification, including claims and sheets of drawings contained in the application as originally filed. The files of these applications are available to the public for inspection and reproduction may be purchased for 30 cents a sheet.

Defensive Publication applications have not been examined as to the merits of alleged invention. The Patent Ofiice makes no assertion as to the novelty of the disclosed subject matter.

Published March 16, 1971 CLIPS Paul Johnson Garner, Welwyn Garden City, England, assignor to Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, London, England Filed Jan. 29, 1970, Ser. No. 6,804 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Feb. 3, 1969,

Int. Cl. A44b 21/00 US. Cl. 24-73 2 Sheets Drawing. 6 Pages Specification A clip is disclosed for attaching a thermoplastic panel to a metal frame used to reinforce the thermoplastic panel. The clip is preferably made of a stiff thermoplastic material and the base is shaped so as to engage sites integrally molded on the surface of the thermoplastic panel. Two arms extend above the base which receive and grip the metal frame or tubular member. Each arm carries a lug at or near its end. A transverse locking member is placed over the arms securing the tubular member between the arms.

Preferably the clip is slidably engaged with the thermoplastic panel to permit movement in transverse direction to the rod. Thermoplastic panels thus reinforced are useful for auto panels, for example, hoods, and enjoy the advantages of slidability to correct minor inaccuracies in automobile production and compensation for the thermal expansion of the tubular frame by sliding. Thermoplastic materials suitable for the production of clips are isotatic polymers of propylene, high density polyethylene, copolymers of propylene with ethylene, acrylonitrile-butadienestyrene copolymers, acetal copolymers and nylons.

Maia. 16; 1971 m d Jail. v29, i 1976 P. Jr. GARNEk T884,011

CLIPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 

